(POST ROTATION) JESKAI BURN

[Aodh]

Is everyone comfortable with their manabases? How many untapped lands do we want? Maximum number of painlands?

We have 12-16 untapped in this past two pages of lists with a lot of 13/15 builds.

[Toddington]

Is everyone comfortable with their manabases? How many untapped lands do we want? Maximum number of painlands?

We have 12-16 untapped in this past two pages of lists with a lot of 13/15 builds.

You don't want more than 10 tapped lands, but 9 is probably optimal. No more than 6 painlands. I looked at ton of Jeskai builds from the Pro Tour, and that seems to be the trend. Worked well for me in practice also (24 land build).

[Jamie]

Screw YP$. Seeker of the way is the new hotness

[Valdarith]

Blasphemy.

[Mr. Metronome]

What does nullify answer that isn't answered by our removal or stroke? I feel like the upside of stroke countering walkers, dig, and Stoke outweighs countering Courser/Rider/mono red, especially when our mana is significantly worse with nullify.

[Jedi_Knight]

Screw YP$. Seeker of the way is the new hotness

They would burn you for that in the middle ages!

And you would play LS into triple YP and overrun them with tokens!

[Jamie]

What does nullify answer that isn't answered by our removal or stroke? I feel like the upside of stroke countering walkers, dig, and Stoke outweighs countering Courser/Rider/mono red, especially when our mana is significantly worse with nullify.

That's a good point. I run 3 nullify main and 2 stroke sideboard. My plan against green dev was to nullify cards I couldn't deal with using burn (polukranos). It also hits caryatid which is pretty good vs ascendency decks.
I mean the obvious answer is savage knuckleblade, mantis rider, Anafenza, the Foremost. Nullify isn't a dead card against ascendency and sligh decks. Nullify can be played mainboard reliably. You can topdeck nullify turn 20 and know it will trade 1-1 at some point.

But you're right when you say that everything I want to hit with nullify can be hit with disdainful stroke as well.

[Valdarith]

What does nullify answer that isn't answered by our removal or stroke? I feel like the upside of stroke countering walkers, dig, and Stoke outweighs countering Courser/Rider/mono red, especially when our mana is significantly worse with nullify.

Caryatid, Courser, Mantis Rider, Brimaz...

[Valdarith]

I do agree that Nullify makes the mana a little more difficult though, and have been considering your talking point lately. It is nice to have another two mana answer to aaggressive decks though.

[LP, of the Fires]

The difference is basically nullify is less bad G1 when both cards would be bad.

[DXI-Edge]

I think running Nullify takes away from other, better options due to bending the mana too sharp.

[LP, of the Fires]

People complain about how it wrecks your mana, then you realize in postboard games, all your boarding in are blue and white cards to go with the extra flooded strands and temples of enlightenments you're playing...

Like, some of the best cards in your sideboard/flex slots are extra counters, prog sphinx's, digs, brimaz, enchantment removal(both removal that is an enchantment and removal for enchantments), etc.

The only reason to not play nullify is if you're on the ashcloud plan and you can STILL make that work rather painlessly. FWIW, I'd also rather play magma spray over anger of the gods if we're brining up other anti-agro options.

[Valdarith]

Agreed on Magma Spray.

[Whole]

Not sure I agree on Magma Spray considering how Boss Sligh operates right now. They plan to go very wide with tokens, and have Hammerhand at the ready for your one blocker. And they play Hordeling Outburst instead of Rabblemaster now. I played a few matches online, and postboard I thought I couldn't lose. Kept really good hands with tons of cheap burn removal & a Brimaz. It just didn't matchup well vs Akroan Crusaders, Hammerhands, and Hordeling Outburst.

[DXI-Edge]

I agree with Whole.

If your not running Brimaz and Prognostic Sphinx, then yes you want magma spray over anger so your own stuff doesn't die.

On the other hand, having access to anger not only vs Sligh but also Abzan aggro is huge.

Because of that, and brimaz, and anger, and the fact that I want to cast mostly Red/White spells with Dig and Sphinx being the only double blue spells I want to cast (14 blue in my build is enough) you really can't run nullify on top of that.

You can run nullify, but then you have to run a blue/red or blue/white build.
On top of that, I feel the red white build with Hushwing and Stroke allow us to still be aggressive and hold up mana after turns 4/5, which is what we want to do anyway.

[Valdarith]

If you're concerned about Boss Sligh then just run Circle of Flame or Scouring Sands. Does the same thing as Anger without the hefty mana requirement. It's not like you actually bring in Anger against other decks (that are real at least).

[BlakLanner]

Anger also has its uses against Green Devotion and Ascendency. Circle still may be a good card for us now that Mardu Tokens has started seeing some play. It is also convenient that it won't wipe our board as well (Brimaz/Sphinx/Dragon aside)

[Valdarith]

But we're already huge favorites against Ascendancy and Green devotion so just run the card that's easier to cast for the deck you're worried about (Boss Sligh).

[BlakLanner]

That is a fairly reasonable point. It also stays in play rather than being a one-shot effect. I may have to tweak my sideboard a little bit more.

[Valdarith]

There is an argument for Scouring Sands in that it doesn't die to enchantment hate and that Circle of Flame is nullfied by Hall of Triumph. Just something to consider.

[BlakLanner]

Mono Red won't have enchantment hate. If I am going to be casting it at sorcery speed, I am better off with Anger. It deals more damage and exiles.

[DXI-Edge]

Did I not just say that anger is good vs Abzan aggro as well....

[Aodh]

Anzac aggro players will eventually realize than junk is a midrange wedge.

[LP, of the Fires]

Anger is definitely good in other matchups.

Like, if you play against a very good g/b devotion player, you discover the matchup actually isn't great and you wish you had angers. Luckily good green players are a myth so that's a wash.

[Elvis]

Got 4-0 at game day with Skies:
[deck]
4 Welkin Tern
4 Vaporkin
4 Hushwing Gryff
4 Mantis Rider
2 Ashcloud Phoenix
1 Stormbreath Dragon

4 Lightning Strike
4 Jeskai Charm
4 Stoke the Flames
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Bident of Thassa
1 Chandra, Pyromaster

• Lands
  4 Mystic Monastery
  4 Shivan Reef
  4 Battlefield Forge
  1 Mana Confluence
  2 Temple of Triumph
  1 Temple of Enlightenment
  3 Swiftwater Cliffs
  2 Flooded Strand
  2 Island
  1 Plains

Sideboard:
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Master of Waves
2 Suspension Field
2 Erase
2 Arc Lightning
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
[/deck]

It was game day, so it was targeted at the first week post-PTKTK meta.

Goblin Rabblemaster is not a card you want in the current meta, and Dig Through Time stretctches the mana very hard to the blue side. I decided focus on red and blue to drop Brimaz, King of Oreskos and Seeker of the Way and play Welkin Tern/Vaporkin instead.

Round 1 vs Mono Green Devotion (2-0):
That deck plays lots of dead cards against fliers. The only things I need to worry about are Polukranos going monstrous or a fast Hornet Queen when I don't have a Hushwing Gryff. It turns out that Hornet Nest with Setessan Tactics is quite good against my 2/1 fliers. However, I got my one-of Chandra to take out the tokens. Chandra gets out of control quickly. Game 2 was just fliers beatdown with a Jeskai Charm on Polukranos.
-2 Welkin Tern -1 Vaporkin -1 Lightning Strike
+2 Erase +2 Suspension Field

Round 2 vs Whidisi (2-1):
This matchup is even better as it cant ever interact with my fliers and the painful 3 color manabase. Lost a game 2 due to landscrew. Game 3 saw the power of Bident of Thassa as it out-CA Courser of Kruphix and drew me the timely Erase to kill a bow.
-2 Welkin Tern -2 Vaporkin
+2 Erase +2 Suspension Field

Round 3 vs UB Pearl Lake Ancient Control (2-1):
Trading cards one-for-one puts me so ahead of tempo. He took some incidental damage from EOT Hushwing Gryffs and hasty Mantis Riders. Eventually got him with double Jeskai Charm. Game 2 I got a slow start and saw triple Jorubai Murk Lurker beatdown. Game 3 I managed to resolve T4 Ashcloud Phoenix. He had to spend two turns on Perilous Vault. Then I resolved a Bident of Thassa and got there.
-2 Welkin Tern -2 Vaporkin -1 Lightning Strike
+4 Eidolon of the Great Revel +1 Chandra, Pyromaster

Round 4 vs Abzan Midrange (2-0):
I have a good clock with fliers. I have the one-of Stormbreath Dragon. I have 4 maindeck Hushwing Gryffs. I have Bident of Thassa drawing into burn spells.
-2 Welkin Tern -1 Vaporkin -1 Lightning Strike
+2 Erase +2 Suspension Field

With more Arc Lightning in the meta now, I'm cutting down on the two-drops, possibly for Magma Jets or another top end flier.

[Whole]

So Hushwing isn't even terrible in the mirror. Flashing it EOT when you're playing the staring game (can't run mantis into lightning strike) is pretty strong. I'd still side him out, but it isn't the worst.

[Mr. Metronome]

Playing this list for the Standard rounds of my split format Player of the Year event this weekend, thoughts/comments/criticism/wild speculation/rumours?

[deck]4 Seeker of the Way
4 Mantis Rider
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Hushwing Gryff
2 Stormbreath Dragon

4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
4 Jeskai Charm
4 Stoke the Flames
2 Disdainful Stroke
3 Dig Through Time

4 Battlefield Forge
4 Mystic Monastery
3 Flooded Strand
2 Island
2 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
2 Temple of Epiphany
3 Temple of Triumph
Sideboard
2 Negate
1 Hushwing Gryff
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Prognostic Sphinx
2 Suspension Field
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 End Hostilities
1 Banishing Light
2 Magma Spray[/deck]

[Jojja]

I'd add another 2 Stormbreath Dragons to the SB over Prognostic Sphinx and a third Suspension Field over the End Hostilities. End is not really worth it in my experience, I normally go for anger against swarm decks and G/x Devotion since the mana dorks are the problem and Disdainful Stroke and Hushwing Gryff deals with the annoying monsters and ETB triggers from Hornet Queen ect.

The SBD and Suspension help shore up the Abzan match that is your worst MU by far in my experience. Stormbreath winns that MU almost by itself since they only have the 4 Hero's Downfall to deal with it in the deck.

I have also upped my lands to 25 when playing the more draw-go type of Jeskai because I found that the games I struggled where the once where I missed a land drop the first 5 turns.

[Mr. Metronome]

Prognostic Sphinx is slightly worse than Dragon vs Abzan but much better elsewhere.
I've flooded too often to add the 25th land.

If I cut anything for the 3rd Field it'd be the Banishing Light, but I'm willing to pay 1 more mana for versatility.

End Hostilities could in theory be the 3rd Anger, but I like having a hedge vs resolved big things. It can win the game singlehandedly vs Devotion.

[BlakLanner]

I have found the secret to winning with this deck:
1) Add Dig Through Time to the deck.
2) Never cast Dig Through Time.
3) Win next two tournaments.

I haven't lost a match since I added the Dig. I have drawn it but never cast it.

[rcwraspy]

At SCG Worcester I only cast Dig 3 times, and 2 of them were prayers trying to get out from very bad situations (and neither worked out). The third was very much a win-more Dig. I'm still running 2 in the 60, but I'm not entirely convinced of its importance in the deck.

[BlakLanner]

I think it depends on the kind of deck you are playing. If you are playing a more controlling, answer-based version you need Digs more to find the correct answer. If you are doing what I am doing and dropping a threat and backing it with counters and removal, it is less important. I drew Dig a reasonable amount but never found time to cast it.

[Mr. Metronome]

currently 3-0, 6-0 in games across 2 rounds of standard and 1 modern. 2 modern rounds up next, full report after the tourney

[Valdarith]

Thoughts on Brimaz vs Prognostic Sphinx in the board in a Nullify list? I've been playing Brimaz but I'm beginning to wonder if Sphinx would be better. It's very difficult for control decks and Jeskai to deal with if it resolves. I tend to sandbag threats in those matchups, playing spells at EOT and presenting ways for my opponent to tap out so I can sneak in a threat like Sarkhan, and that strategy has been fairly successful, so it has me wondering if I should be playing Sphinx out of the board.

[Jojja]

Depends on how much you give up against aggro decks and if there are any aggro decks in your meta? I'm keeping my Brimaz since it gives me more play against mono red, that is in my opinion a rougher MU then Abzan or the mirror.

[rcwraspy]

Thoughts on Brimaz vs Prognostic Sphinx in the board in a Nullify list? I've been playing Brimaz but I'm beginning to wonder if Sphinx would be better. It's very difficult for control decks and Jeskai to deal with if it resolves. I tend to sandbag threats in those matchups, playing spells at EOT and presenting ways for my opponent to tap out so I can sneak in a threat like Sarkhan, and that strategy has been fairly successful, so it has me wondering if I should be playing Sphinx out of the board.

I like sphinx better. Your aggro matchup should be fine with all the burn and lifelink plus anger and spray from the board. Sphinx is just better in the mirror, against control, and even against abzan and green devotion.

[Valdarith]

Thoughts on Brimaz vs Prognostic Sphinx in the board in a Nullify list? I've been playing Brimaz but I'm beginning to wonder if Sphinx would be better. It's very difficult for control decks and Jeskai to deal with if it resolves. I tend to sandbag threats in those matchups, playing spells at EOT and presenting ways for my opponent to tap out so I can sneak in a threat like Sarkhan, and that strategy has been fairly successful, so it has me wondering if I should be playing Sphinx out of the board.

I like sphinx better. Your aggro matchup should be fine with all the burn and lifelink plus anger and spray from the board. Sphinx is just better in the mirror, against control, and even against abzan and green devotion.

This was my conclusion as well.

My meta is green green green. Always has been, always will be. That's not to say that there aren't other decks in my meta, but here it's green vs nongreen players always.

[nme]

I've been running the "jeskies" version with Hushwings/Ashcloud and I've been considering moving my Prognostic Sphinx's to the main. I board them in so much, I might as well be playing them in G1. If I do that I feel like I'd have to go to 25 land, because I want 2x Sarkhan as well.

[Purp]

How many blue sources do I need if I ONLY want to play mantis rider?

[rcwraspy]

How many blue sources do I need if I ONLY want to play mantis rider?

It probably doesn't drop much. You still need it by t3. I'd say 12 still.